Testimonies - Encounter God s Presence Servant Leadership Retreat 2014 We had about 150 people from 10 different churches. Here are some of their testimonies. Jesus said in Mark 5:19, Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you. My husband and I recently attended the Servant Leadership Retreat which was amazing. We were refreshed and renewed. The presence of the Lord was so strong as He ministered to us and so many others. Jason and Heidi and their staff did an amazing job of preparation and to bring everyone into a place of worship and the Word which was delivered by some incredible servants. God is working to restore broken relationships and we met some incredible people. We encourage any youth group that is looking for a place to plug into for summer camp that will be incredible and life changing then you should check out Encounter God's Presence. Don't miss out on what God has in store for you!! - Cindy Thank you guys so much! I wanted to tell you what an absolute blessing this weekend was! It was so great and we really enjoyed it! I myself received some much needed encouragement this weekend and felt God stirring up my heart! Not only were the speakers wonderful but worship was outstanding as well! Also wanted to say thank you so much for all the resources you guys blessed us with! I know there are so many good nuggets that are going to come from each of them! Thanks for being a blessing! We truly enjoyed ourselves and were blessed abundantly and can't wait to come back next year! - Tuesday What an amazing weekend! Hearts were set on fire, minds were set free and God's presence was encountered! Oh, and Heidi giving tons of free material away was the icing on the cake. Thanks for a wonderful weekend to all who helped put this together; you guys did an amazing job. Thank you for those who spoke God's words over us, those who ministered to our hearts, and for those who led us into His presence during worship. Also, a special thank you to Jason, who's heart is to help not only the next generation, but also those shepherding the next generation. You my friend are truly a blessing. - Collin God has shown me to get my eyes and mind off of self but on others and HIM and to live with a heavenly and Biblical mindset. - Joe Some anonymous ones: This weekend has really opened up my heart to the gospel. I came to this retreat not knowing what to expect, and I can honestly say that I will leave a new person. There wasn t really anything specific except just me gaining a new perspective on the way I want to live my life. I felt touched by others prophetic word even though they weren t directed to me. I feel that I will leave here with an open heart and a passion for leading. This concluded why it s so important to live in the Heavenly reality instead of the worldly/ We have to remember that we are not of this world, but are just in this world until we go to be with the Lord. Love the persons around us, but forget not to love ourselves. For who we are, not who we want to be. I ve been trying to find direction, and God gave me a clear path. He reminded me who I am.
2 I ve been abused and God finally told me that I m not a victim anymore and I am His sweet daughter. Shiloh Family Church: It was a very encouraging weekend! Thank you so much. Kara This weekend I felt encouraged that I am enough. I am a daughter of the most high God. I am good enough. It is astounding to see men and women of the Christ prophesying. Thanks for an encouraging time. Terri Church on the Rock: It is always encouraging to get together with brothers and sisters in Christ and experience God. Reading about God is good but truly experiencing Him is Over the top AWESOME. The worship, challenging Word and prophetic times were very refreshing. Thanks Jason, Heidi and all others for putting this together, Already looking forward to Summer Camp 2014. It is going to be great! - Jim North Elevation Church: This was a very enjoyable experience that demonstrated things I already knew but in a fresh and new way. I feel like you get something more out of Scripture when you hear it repeated in a fresh way. The love, joy, and friendship exuded from this room. I am a fairly quiet and reserved person in large groups but I still felt so much love and caring from the people I met. - Amanda Alan Smith was awesome! He said things that I never thought about. He made it clear to me that I am allowed to expect mountains to move, people to be healed, and lives to be changed. The worship was an awesome experience. As a worship pastor, it is refreshing to be led by a wonderful leader like Heidi. Kathryn Liked most? the speakers. I learned the proper way to focus on God. Anthony Last night God gave me the word set. So I looked up the definition and meditated on the Word in Ps. 41:12, But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in Your presence forever. To be in His presence forever. Then this morning Alan spoke on setting our minds in the spiritual or heavenly realm. Awesome! This morning in worship God showed me that I needed to receive His freedom to be restored. To walk in that freedom daily and to receive it daily. Thank you for giving of yourselves to the equipping and pouring into the leaders. Amazing weekend. Thank you. Alyette Fort Worth Harvest Church: Where do I start. God is good. I was healed completely. It was just awesome. Thank you Jason and Heidi for being faithful to God. We had a great time and went in deeper waters (Ezekiel 47). I was just blessed. Glory to God! Gracie What I learned in not to question God or doubt Him because He is always in control and will never leave us nor forsake us. - Mario
3 Red Church: I feel like I got more explained to me, and have a better understanding of some questions that caused doubts and lapses in my faith. With these answers in my heart now, I can focus on what God has called me to do instead of dwelling on what I don t know. Leo This weekend I gained greater understanding of how to become a leader and walk in line with God s plan. The worship was inspiring as well as all the prophetic words. Brady I was introduced to a whole new way to see God, through a revealing mindset. I can now carry this view of a heavenly mindset to better see the works that the Lord is doing in my life and in other s lives. Especially using the mindset in helping to see the path God will send me on as a leader in the youth ministry! I will even apply this to everyday life, in my relationships and studies! I truly enjoyed the seminar! The speakers were great, and hearing powerful words of God prophesied over these people was wonderful! God bless you guys and thank you so much! Chris The worship was good. I have not worshipped like that and it opened me up. The speakers were good. I enjoyed it. Hunter Grace Community Church: When I came I was extremely bound with fear. And now leaving I ve taken back ground the enemy had taken, and now I am a fearless warrior. Raquel I learned that I carry the key to God s heart. Everything I do in my righteous desire moves Him in the secret place. Therefore, I can no longer seek any man s approval, for I have all His. It s a false gospel if I feel like I have to become Paul before He gushes over me in His forevermore love. He s called me into the secret keeping and the shouting of rooftops- He has called me to be just like Him in prophesy. Sarah The Lord really flowed through me this weekend and I grew deeper in His waters and our relationship grew stronger. My confidence in my relationship with Him grew. I gained new knowledge of the spirit realm. Mike So Friday night, during worship The Holy Spirit was manifesting in my heart and I was just worshipping. And when I opened my eyes and was dancing and it wasn t me! And that s something I have been praying for and He awakened my spirit to the reality of Christ Jesus in me. Savannah For a while, I had been feeling like I should step out and witness to people at Weatherford College. I wasn t sure but Jeff C. gave me a prophetic word that matched up with that! It was amazing! =) In this word, he said that I shouldn t compare myself to other people because God doesn t compare me to other people. It was spot on! God is Good. =) Sean This weekend I really got refreshed just worshipping Jesus. For me personally I feel like I come to an event like this in a posture to receive from the Lord rather than focusing on what I can give to Him. I really feel that my relationship with Jesus has grown in this short time just by giving thanks to Him. Asa
4 The teaching was great. The speakers are really anointed sharers of God s word and heart. God gave me a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit this weekend. He is so amazing. He also gave me a word/vision for my sister who is an atheist and is going through hard time right now. I was just really encouraged in so many ways this weekend. I m so grateful for being able to be a part of this and so blessed. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this retreat and for the obedience to God that is so apparent and encouraging! Shelby I learned how to hear the voice of God more clearly. Micah I came expecting (hoping) to be filled with more direction and understanding. To hear God s voice audibly and to know that He s enough alone. I was prophesied over by a man with blue eyes. I think it was Pastor Alan, he said, That God has great plans for my future, don t worry there will be disappointments, but my calling is greater. Made my expectations. God answered me. Vanesa The Lord has been meeting me where I am at. Life has recently brought on some trails and unknown changes that have been bringing a lot of worry and uncertainty. The Lord has spoken to me so much though about what He has planned and to trust Him with everything. It s been refreshing. Dutch TurningPoint Church: At the Encounter God s Presence Servant Leadership Retreat, I felt like God was telling me that who I am is enough and my circumstances don t speak over me. God wants me to give Him control and not my circumstances. Like Pastor Alan said, At some point in time we have to decide what is authoritative, our experiences or the Word. My experiences don t define me because His Word is truth. And because I know His Word is truth, I know He wants me to be a contributor to the glory of His kingdom. Effective ministry is not about technique or having right theology, it s about if you are a man/woman rightly related to God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. So I may not know all my theology but I am a woman rightly related to and empowered by God, the Holy Spirit. Lauren I came for a recharge. I got that and more! The words Jeff Chapman spoke over me were very encouraging and enlightening. I knew they were from God. He confirmed things God has been dealing with me on and things the Lord was speaking to me even last night. The Holy Spirit definitely had His way this weekend! All of the messages were refreshing and just what I needed to hear from God. In reference to a word I received from Jeff, a teenager was struggling with a sin and cried out he wanted freedom. God has freed me from the very thing he struggles with and told me He has given me the authority to free others such as this teen. Love the time I had! Thank You! Jonathan God spoke to me and showed me that I don t have to worry about my earthly reality because He can take care of me, and He wants me to focus on my heavenly reality. I have this overwhelming feeling like I don't have to stress or worry or have to overthink anymore. Like I ve been doing for a long time now because my God has me in His hands! Anonymous The Lord reconfirmed that the dreams and words that have been spoken over me in the past are not dead. That they were true then and are still just as true today and will be fulfilled. That I am still free to dream. And that though I ve been broken I will come out stronger and more useful to Him. Glory to God!!! Jan
5 I had great expectations for this retreat but God had greater expectations. On the first night, I was baptized in the Spirit while God blessed me with His language. Being able to speak and pray in God s tongue is the most freeing experience I have ever had. Praise and Glory to God!!!! - Josh This weekend God worked through me and really spoke through many people and He showed me that I don t need anyone but Him to make me happy. When Sherri Evans spoke to me and told me her prophetic word she received from God. It really hit me, how desperately I need and want God. Without Him life would be harder than it already is, with Satan and all the things he does to hurt me and make me feel like I m unwanted, or like I m not ever going to be good enough for anyone. I m glad this weekend, I was told God is completely going to heal me and He is all I need and that He is mending my heart through all the trouble and hurt I ve been through. - Alyssa I learned I don't need to be self-conscious and how I should look at others. Hunter What I got out of this retreat is that I am a leader and as I leader it is my duty to know where I am leading others and also lead them closer to God. - Jesse God gave me peace and spoke words of encouragement through others. He also used me to speak words to some that needed to hear His thoughts about them. I felt His peace and He told me to dwell in Him and just let Him overflow my heart. Mary So this weekend I did something that I was reluctant to do for the longest time. I confessed my habitual sin to one of the leaders. He gave me an amazing prayer. It felt amazing to have these chains being broken off that I ve had on for months. That s something that I ve never done and it just feels amazing not to worry about that particular problem anymore because I have faith that I will not be deceived anymore. That a fantastic way to start off 2014. Not to mention the amazing job Alan Smith and Shawn Brann did on their messages. Last night and this morning were already life changing, I can t imagine how powerful Encounter 2014 will be. I m excited! - Davey This weekend really spoke to me that God breaks His warriors before they become righteous. That really touched my life and opened my eyes to the way I look at things and change the way I love my life. Matthew 14:13-21 will forever be in my heart in the way that Shawn spoke about it. The prophetic words I got from Heidi really spoke to me about that changes coming and having to sacrifice some things and not understand why. Having being told that I have a father s anointing, was a real confirmation from previous words. Bryan This weekend, I dove right into God s spirit. I finally decided to worship with no holds barred. I finally got a prophetic word from God for a couple that is really close to me and that was amazing. The prophetic words spoken over, not only myself, but others were amazing confirmation of God s Word and promises over us. The worship was awesome; the Spirit of God really rested on us the entire time. The Word of God challenged us to really see things as God does. This retreat was more than I expected and I can t wait to see what God is going to do in His servants as we apply the teachings in our lives. God NEVER fails; He is so faithful. Kristi